Texas AD talks to Longhorns on coach search

Published 9:02 pm, Thursday, December 26, 2013

Tailback and Steele product Malcolm Brown said “a couple of missteps” prevented UT from being among the nation's elite.

Tailback and Steele product Malcolm Brown said “a couple of missteps” prevented UT from being among the nation's elite.

Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News

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Jackson Jeffcoat combines with Steve Edmond to bring down Jayhawk halfback Darrian Miller as Texas hosts Kansas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on November 2, 2013.

Jackson Jeffcoat combines with Steve Edmond to bring down Jayhawk halfback Darrian Miller as Texas hosts Kansas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on November 2, 2013.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

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Case McCoy runs the offense near the goal as Texas hosts Kansas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on November 2, 2013.

Case McCoy runs the offense near the goal as Texas hosts Kansas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on November 2, 2013.

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

Texas AD talks to Longhorns on coach search

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SAN ANTONIO — Texas athletic director Steve Patterson addressed the team last week to provide an overview of the Longhorns' search for a new coach.

Players said they have no idea who Mack Brown's replacement will be, and their description of their dream candidate was simple.

“I just want him to come in and give everyone a fair shot,” junior defensive back Quandre Diggs said.

Considering Brown has coached the Longhorns since many of the players were in preschool, they said imagining someone else patrolling the UT sidelines still seems surreal.

“It'll be a different world for all of us,” senior quarterback Case McCoy said. “There will be a new energy here. Everyone will be energized to see what happens. And then, there will be new critiques.”

Ready for a return: After nine consecutive 10-win seasons and seven top 10 finishes from 2001-09, Texas hasn't accomplished either feat since then. But the Longhorns said regardless of what happens in Monday's Valero Alamo Bowl, they don't need a major rebuilding project.

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“We can be there,” said junior tailback Malcolm Brown, a Steele High product. “We could've been there this year as well. We just had a couple of missteps.”

UT (8-4) will return as many as 14 players who'll start Monday against Oregon.

“I don't think talent is an issue,” McCoy said. “It's a matter of mindset, and our guys are working on that.”

Frost wary about UT's pass rush: Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost saw how Texas turned last year's Alamo Bowl around with a pass rush that produced 10 sacks — including 41/2 by Alex Okafor — in the Longhorns' comeback victory over Oregon State.

That big effort has made Frost mindful that the Ducks need to pay attention against UT defensive ends Jackson Jeffcoat and Cedric Reed.

“I think Oregon State would have won pretty handily if it wasn't for the pass rush,” Frost said.

Mariota's favorite treat: One of the Hawaiian creature comforts Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota misses most about not being in his home state is the lack of quality shaved-ice treats available on the mainland.

“I like the rainbow, vanilla, banana and strawberry,” Mariota said. “Some places in Hawaii they put condensed milk on top of it and that's to die for. I'll probably get some of it when I go back home.”